Gun test packer



This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a gun test packer.

It is an object of this invention to provide a tool for testing a formation in oil well drilling, and completing a well in the event a desirable quantity of mineral or gas is encountered.

It is another object of the invention to provide a tool having a perforating gun in combination with a packer and a means for circulating fluid through the tool preliminary to perforation.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a tool by means of which a selected portion of a well may be washed, packed ot and tested in one operation and without the necessity of removing the tubing or tool from the bore.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, more particularly deiined in the following specication and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a longitudinal elevational view of the tool in circulating position, with the view being a partial sectional.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal elevation, partially in section, illustrating the tool in packed off position.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional end view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is across sectional end view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a cross sectional end view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a tubing section, forming the end member of a string of tubing, which receives the upper valve member 2. The valve member 2 has a plurality of perforations 3 and tits in the valve casing 4. A suitable stop member, as the set screw 5 is mounted in the slot 6, and limits the movement of the valve member 2 in the casing 4. The casing 4 has the perforations '7 adapted to be brought into alignment with the perforations 3 of the valve member 2. Suitable packing means as 8, 8 are mounted in the member 2 above and below the perforations. The casing 4 is reduced and externally threaded at its lower end to be received by the cup nipple 9, and the cup nipple 9 is reduced externally as at 10, 11, to receive the packing cups 12, 12. A spacer ring as 13 separates the packing cups 12 and maintains them in position on the nipple 9.

The lower end of the nipple 9 is reduced and externally threaded to receive the spacer ring 14 which forms an integral part of the bushing 15. The perforating cylinder 16 is reduced and externally threaded at its upper end, and is mounted in the bushing 15. Suitable packing means, as 17, 17 are mounted in the cylinder 16, and a bushing 18 is formed at the lower end of the cylinder 16 in which the lower packing cup nipple 19 is mounted.

The perforator cylinder is provided with lsuitable perlatent l ice forating cartridges or charges 20, 20 and a primer cord as 21, and a percussion cap 22. The upper end of the cylinder 16 has an outwardly threaded axial projection in which the cap 22 is mounted and on which the detonator housing 23 is mounted. The housing 23 has a spring loaded ring pin 24 which is normally maintained in cocked position above the percussion cap 22 by a shear pin 25.

The lower packing cups 26, 26 are mounted on the lower nipple 19 and are provided with the spacer ring 27. The lower end of the lower nipple 19 is enlarged forming a dump valve housing 28 which is internally threaded at its lower end to receive the key seat 29. Suitable passageways as 30, 30 extend through the key seat 29, and a dump valve mandrel 31 extends through the key seat 29. A key 32 is formed on the mandrel 31 and a key slot 33 extends through the lower end of the key seat. A seal 34 is mounted on the upper end of the mandrel 31 having suitable sealing means such as the O-rings 35. A spacer cap 36 is mounted on the mandrel 31 and maintains the tool spaced in the bore with relation to the side walls thereof and which may be mounted on the mandrel as by means of the set screws 37. A suitable nose piece 38 is mounted on the lower end of the mandrel 31.

The upper and lower bushings 14 and 18 of the cylinder 16 is provided with passageways as 39, 39, and suitable passageways 40, 40 extend longitudinally through the cylinder 16. A suitable sleeve as 41 is mounted on the cylinder 16 between the bushings 14 and 18.

The device is prepared for lowering into a well casing as 42, with the perforations 3 and 7 in alignment Vand with the gun loaded and the ring pin 24 cocked and maintained in cocked position by the shear pin 2S, and with the seal 34 in open position, the key 32 being within the key seat 29 and the uid in the well casing flowing upwardly through the passageways 30, 39, 39 and 4) as the tool moves downwardly in the well casing. When the tool circulating the uid through the tubing, tool and casing has been lowered to the preselected location in the well casing 42, the well will be ilushed by pumping clear water through the tool, displacing the mud. The greatest portion of the heavy mud will pass through the ports 3, 7 into the casing, due to the restricted size of the openings through the tool, but when the mud has been displaced and water is being circulated, the tool will be ushed by its passing through the ports 30, 39, 39 and 40. Then the tubing 1 is rotated, turning the valve 2, moving the ports 3, 7 out of alignment and the tubing raised to move the key 32, through the slot 33 and moving the seal 34 into sealing relation with the key seat member 29. A go-devil (not shown) may then be dropped through the tubing onto the ring pin 24, shearing the shear pin 25 and detonating the percussion cap 22, igniting the primer 21 and ring the charges or cartridges 20, thus perforating the sleeve 41 and the casing 42. If production is encountered, the packer re- `mains in the well, with the ow of production being through the passageways 39, 39 and 40. if production is not encountered, the tool may be withdrawn from the casing and redressed, and quickly and easily made ready for another test.

While the foregoing is considered a preferred form of the invention, it is by way of illustration only, the broad principle of the invention being defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a gun test packer, a valve member, a valve casing mounted on said member suspended from a string of tubing in a well casing, perforations in said valve member and casing adapted to be brought into and out of alignment to selectively permit or block the ow of fluid therethrough into or out of said tubing, upper and lower packer cup nipples below and suspendedby said valve casing, packer cups mounted on said nipples and extending outwardly in flow sealing relation,. a.. perforating chambery between said nipples, upperv and'lower' trans.- verse fluid passageways above and.. below said. chambers, said `upper transverse passageways communicatingthe. interior of the valve with the space outside off the device between the upper. packer and the.v gun perforating chamber, .Perforating charges insaid perforating chamberand a tiring pin and primer for detonating said charges, vertical` passagewaysA through said perforating., chamber, a dumpA valve beneath said nipples. andipassagewaysihrough saidV dump valve. said lower transverse fluidpassageways andsaid passageways through said dump valvecommunieating the spaceoutside. thedevice between the lower packer.andgunperforating charge..

2. In a gun test packer, a valve member to be secured to the lower end of a string of tubing, a valve casing supported by said member, means .for opening and'closing said valve member with relationto said valve casing to respectively permit or prevent theliow' of drilling fluid4 through said casingA from said tubing, upper and lower packer nipples below and suspended from said valve casing, packer cups on said-.nipplesextending outwardly in ow sealing relation, a perforatinggunsuspendedbetween. said nipples having perforatingI projectiles and charges and having a tiring pinselectively movable into firing position, longitudinal passagewaysthrough said gun and upper and lower transverse uidpassageways above and below saidgun, said upper transverse passageways.` communicating interior of said valve with the space outside the device between the upper.v packer and gun perforatingiA chamber, a dump valve.: beneath said lower nipple and said lowertransverse uid y.passageway communicating the outside ofsaid device between the lower packer andv the gun prerforatingcharge with said dumpvalve, means for circulatinguuid through. said dump valve, and said longitudinal and transverse. pas.` sageways and said valve memberas desired..

3. In a gun` test packer, a valve memberfmountedon the lowerend of. astring ofY tubing, a; valve casingfsup.- ported by. said member, passageways throughsaid valve member and valve casingmovable.intoalignmentfto permit theow of fluid therethrough and .subsequentlyamovable out of alignmenttto ldirect .theilowy of. fluid into the tubing, upper and lower packer nipplessuspended below and from said valve casing, packer cups on' said. nipples extending outwardly in iiowy sealing relation, a perforating gun between said packer-cups and upper and-lower transverse iiuid, passageways above'and belowv said gun, said gun having detonating means .comprising a'serie'siof charges and primer cord in contact with said charges, a percussion. cap in. Contact withsaid primer cord and a firing pin. mountedabove said percussion cap, a shear pin maintaining said tiring pinin position above4 said percussion cap, and means for shearing said pin and'r'- ing said percussion cap, passageways through said'v perforating gun and :parallel 4with theA axis thereof and upper and lower transverse passageways adjacent-each' end A of said guncommunicating with thearea outside ofsaid device and the perfo-rating. gun chamber, and'a dump valve beneath the lowermostlof said packer cupsy having fluid passageways therethrough, said dump valvebeing selectively movable into closed position, said passageways. forming a longitudinal fluid conduit throughv the tool.

4. In a gun test packer, a valve casing and' valve mounted on the lower end of a string of" tubing and havingk alignable ports for controllingthe-owfof drilling fluidthrough the casing, said'portsbeing'maintainedin alignment. for circulation of fluid. throughl th'etubing'and' casing and subsequently movedoutiof Valignment -forconlining the ilowf-of uid in the tubing; upperand" lower packer cups beneath said valve extending outwardly in iiow sealing relation, a perforating gun between said packer cups, longitudinal passageways through said gun and upper and lower transverse passageways above and below said gun movable into alignment to communicate the upper transverse passageway with the interior of said Valve and the space outside of said device between the upper packer cup and the perforating gun area, and the lower transverse passageway, communicating the space outside the device between the lower packer cups and the gun perforatingV charge witha-dump valve beneath said packer cups having a keyseat and a nose'piece, said dump Valve having a mandrel extending through said nose piece, a seal mountedA on the upper end of said mandrel, a key on said mandrel maintaining said seal in open position and maintaining communication with the passageways through said gun and the area outside the device until said key seat is rotated moving said key into position to pass through said slot upon the lowering of said mandrel, moving said seal into sealing position.

5. `In agun test packer to be mounted in a well casing on the lower end of a string of tubing, Lipper and lower circulating valves normally maintained open for circula-y tion of fluid through said tubing and well casing, a pair of packer cups between said valve extending outwardly and sealing said valve and a perforating gun between said packer cups, longitudinal axial passageways throughsaid perforating gun and upper and lower transverse Vpassagewaysabove. and beneath said gun providing a fluid passageway tovsaid` upper. and lower circulating valves and the area outside of the :device abo-ve said upper. packer cup and between said upper packer cupand saidrperforatingA gun, and the area outside of the devicebelow said lowermost packer cup and the area between said lower packercup and said. perforatingcharge, means'for selectivelyy closingsaid valves and means for admitting uid into said tubing from said passageway from `the perforated formation.

6. In a gun test packer to be mounted ina well casing on the lower end of a string of tubing, a perforatinggun, charges in said gun, upper andlower packer cups above and beneath said gun sealing said gun against entry of fluid from above.. or beneath, circulating valves above and beneath said packer cups maintained open during movement of said gun into the desired position, vertical fluid passageways through said gun'and upper and lower transversepassageways abo-ve and beneath said gun for communication with the outside of said device and the outside of said perforating gun between the upper packer and said perforating gun and the area outside of said device belowV said lower packer cup and the-area outside of said gun between said charge and said'lower packer, meansA for.- circulating uid through said valve, passage- Ways andsaid gun, means for subsequently closing said Valves anddetonatingv the charges in said gun and admitting flowthrough said gun from 'the perforated formation without removal ofthe device from the well bore.

7. In a gun test packer, a valve member mounted on the 'lower end of a string of tubing, a valve casing supported by saidI member, passageways through said casing and'.valve member movable into and out of alignment, said passageways beingmaintained in alignment during movementinto positionand subsequently moved out of alignment to confine the flow of uid to the string oi tubing, packing cups below and suspended from said valve casing, and a perforating gun between said cups, saidcups extending outwardly to seal said gun from fluid entry from above or below said gun, a sleeve on said gun having inside annular packing` meansadj'acent each endthereof, bushings maintaining said sleeve in p osition, a dump valve beneath said cups andverticaliluid passageways through said gun and' transverse passageways -through said bushings beneath and'above said gun for. communicationof the interior of the valve with the space outside of the device between the upper and lower packer and the perforating gun, forming fluid passage- Way from the dump valve through and around the gun and into the string of tubing.

8. In a gun test packer, a valve member to be mounted on the end of a string of tubing, a valve casing on said valve member, perforatons in said valve member and casing selectively movable into and out of alignment to permit or block the flow of tluid through said tubing and the well casing, a perforating gun Ibelow and suspended from said casing and swab cups adjacent the ends of said gun extending outwardly to secure said gun from entry of uid from above or below said gun, a dump valve below said packing members normally in open position and movable into closed position, said gun having vertical and transverse passagewaysto,communicate the interior of said valve member with the space outside the device between the packing members and the perforating gun and to permit the flow of uid through and around said gun.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,298,131 Wilkinson Mar. 25, 1919 1,474,630 Halliday Nov. 20, 1923 2,029,491 Lane Febr4, 1936 2,059,631 Erwin Nov. 3, 1936 2,569,437 Baker Oct. 2. 1951 

